"Happy to be in London and not just for the scones," she merrily noted.

Were Pat Butcher and Viv Reding separated at birth?

The thieves didn't just scarper with a cottage pie, however. Reding, known for wearing pie-catching, er, sorry, eye-catching, Pat Butcher-style earrings, also lost clothes, jewellery and make up.

"It's the first time I have had my bag stolen and I travel all around the world. They left my papers fortunately. It is a real pain in the neck," the commissioner said.

The Standard reported that Reding's car had been left unlocked in Albermarle Street, London, but that opportunist scoundrels had made off only with the EU vice president's personal goods. Official paperwork was left behind in a separate case in the vehicle, which prevented the commissioner from looking as red-faced as a rhubarb crumble had she been caught out in such a data protection gaffe.